Former chairman of Trenton Marriott board cleared of wrongdoing

TRENTON — A report requested from the public board that oversees the Trenton Marriott has cleared its former chairman of allegations that he had a conflict of interest.

Cleve Christie abruptly resigned two weeks ago as the chairman of the Lafayette Yard Community Development Corporation after claims surfaced he was receiving special benefits for jazz events he promoted at the city’s only hotel. He stepped down the same day city council voted on providing the hotel $295,000 to avoid officials using the allegations as a reason to not fund the hotel.

The vice president of accounting for the hotel’s management team, Waterford Hotel Group, appeared before the LYCDC board Monday to deliver the financial reports of the events.

“The reason why Cleve was doing that and with everybody’s knowledge was because he was doing it on dark days and Sundays to attempt to bring in more business,” Howard Esquirol explained to the board members, adding there were LYCDC meetings to discuss how much money was generated from the concerts to the hotel. “There is no outstanding balance that’s due from Cleve Christie or the jazz events.”

The conflict of interest allegations stemmed from Christie stating he did not have to put down a deposit for the functions.

Esquirol acknowledged after the meeting that the former chairman didn’t put down deposits, but there are “a lot of people that don’t have to depending on the business.”

“Not every business has to put down deposits,” he said.

One of Christie’s jazz events, Bring Back Trenton, also appeared on the$295,000 cash call for nearly $1,700. The concert on Oct. 20, 2012 was planned to be at the Marriott, but was moved to the War Memorial due to scheduling conflict.

Christie said he has already paid the Marriott for the event, but the hotel has not yet forwarded the payment due to its current financial situation.

Esquirol said Christie never received any money for the hotel for the concerts.

Christie, who was succeeded by Joyce Kersey as head of the board, said Tuesday that he felt he was a good chairman and was moving the hotel in right direction.

“I feel that without a doubt I was totally committed and I was trying to do things that would save the taxpayers money,” he said. “If everybody put forth the same effort, we wouldn’t have to go to the city for those cash calls.”

Christie said he is hopeful the community will come together for the hotel.

“At the end of the day we’re all Trentonians and we just have to do what’s necessary to make that hotel successful,” he said. “It could also be the catalyst for the city’s rebirth.”